Indexing mechanism for automatic machines



Nov. 27, 19215. L. RoBBlNs INDEXING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINESOriginal Filed Deo, 21, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INDEXING MEGHANISM FORAUTOMATIC MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 21, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENToR. 50 /oB/MS TORA/EY Nov. 27 1945.

INDEXING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC IACHINES Original Filed Dec. 2l, 1942L. ROBBINS sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEY 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IJIIIIIII INVENToR.0 iosa/M5 71mm Y L. ROBBINS.

INDEXING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINES original Filed Dec.

Nw. 27, 1945. L RQBBINS 2,389,144

INDEXING MEHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINES Original Filed Dgo. 21. 1942 8Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR. so Raza/Ms K BY 6 ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1945'.

` l. RoBBlNs INDEXING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 6original Filed Dec. 21, 1942 FES?.

INVENTOR. 0 /aBB//vs BY W ATTOR/YE Nov. ZZ 1945. L. RoBBlNs INDEXINGMECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 21. 1942 8Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG.8.

Nav. 27, 1945. L. RoBBlNs 2,339,744

INDEXING MEGHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINES Original Filed Deo. 21, 1942 8Sheets-Sheet 8 I N VEN TOR. 0 iaB//vs BYZ d l y ATTO/BYE? Patented Nov.27, 1945 INDEXING MEcHAixTIsMA Fon-.imonline MACHINES.

Leo Robbins, New York, N. Y.,` assignor to Roberts Manufacturing Co.,New York, NJ?.

Original application December 21', 1942, Serial- No. 469,685. Dividedand this anplicationMay 18, 194,5, Serial No. 594,501

4 Claims.

This invention relates to indexing mechanism for automatic machines ofthe type which employ aV turntable with means for operating the tablestep-by-step through a predetermined angular distance at each step. Thisapplication is a divisionof my copending application for Automaticdrilling machine, Ser. N o. 469,685, filed December 2l, 1942.

Ina machine as described in my copending. application, the turntable maycarry a work-piece to a pluralityof successive working positionsv ineach of which a different operation may be performed.; or, the turntableis capable of carrying.` a plurality of work-pieces so that a pluralityof operations may be simultaneously performedy on the respectivework-pieces. Each of the foregoing methods of oper-ation calls for adifferent opera-VV tionof' theturntable. It is, therefore, one of theprincipal objects of' this invention to provide meansl for operating afvturntable step-by-step through a. predetermined angular distance at eachstep, inl combination with means whereby the degree of angular movementper steplo theturntablemay be controlled.

It is a further objectof this invention to provide means for definingthel positions of the-turntable at each step of its movement and thuswipe out the slight irregularities which may be inherent in thestep-by-step-drive.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for lockingthe turntable in each new position after being turned through eachnewstep.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent inthe following detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan View o-f the drilling machine withparts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a" section taken line 2--2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 3 is a section taken line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken line 4 4- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is av section taken line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section.. taken line 6--5 of Fig. 7.

Fig. '7 is a section taken line I-T of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a section taken line 9,-9 of'Fig. 1.

substantially on the substantially on the substantiallyv on thesubstantially on the substantially on the substantiallyv on the onI thesubstantially on thev In the following description, the invention; issetforth as applied tovan automa-ticV drilling ma.-

chineior the purposeoidrilling: holesinthe hubs of; hypodermic injectionneedles; but it will be understood that. the invention has general ap`plication. to any automatic machine employing a turntable adapted to beoperated in steps;

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig.. l, it will be seenthat the invention consists broadly in. supporting within. a frame. orcastingv IOL a. rotatingv table IlY having a plurality of hub.

supports I2 projecting therethrough. The operat'or places the hubsf tobe drilledv upon` the upper ends: of said supportsin` advancev of thedrilling positions. The hubsmay. be of the types shownl inlFigs. 10, 1'1and 12. rIIhe intermittent rotation` ofV turntable H is designed tobring the hubs sucf cessivelyv into the drilling positions beneath thedrills A, B and? C, after which the drilled hubs are removed from thehubsupports and replaced:

with undr-illed hubs. The mechanism for rotatingrthe table to bring thehubs into drilling-position andfor eiiecting such drilling'will` now bedescribed;

The hub supports l2; are' disposed circumferentiallyl inY thev table H'and spaced equal angular distances apart. This angle is designatedI atFig. 1l as-.the angle a. by step, eachstepbeing equal to; theangular-distance a to bring. the supports successively intocooperationwith the drill headsA, B, C Which are xedly mounted ontheframe i0.

For rotating the turntable H. intermittently through successive steps,the table may be mounted upon a shaft I4'- .which isdrivenl by anintermittent. or step-by-step. drive. Thisv drive isshown in Figs. 5, 6-ande 7v and` may comprise a star-wheel lfwith: which is` adapted to meshperiodically a pinv H eccentrically mountedv on a disk i8 which issupported for rotation on a shaft la. lIhe said shaft also carries agear 2.0 adapted to meshwith. a mutilated gear 2| of larger diameter solthat gear 20 will rotate through: only a.

The table is then rotated step This means that disk I8 and eccentricupin I1` will also make one complete revolution for each revolution ofgear wheel 2|, and since shaft I9 isv eccentrically positioned withrespect to shaft I4, the pin I1 will mesh with the star-wheel I6 onceduring each revolution of gear wheel" 2| through a predetermined angulardistance, at vwhich point it will leave the star-wheel. Thus, for thatfraction of a revolution of gear wheel 2| indicated by the proportion ofits circumference occupied by teeth 22, the star-wheel will be movedthroughV a step and will remain inthat position throughout the time thatthe remainder of the periphery of gear wheel 2| which is minus gearteeth remains out of mesh with gear Wheel 20. Thus the star-wheel hasbeen given one step of rotation designed to move the succeeding hubsupport I2 to drilling position while moving the hub which has beendrilled, out of drilling position.

AThe said intermittent movement may be effected from any suitabledriving source such as a motor, not shown, which drives through a beltand pulley 25., 26fto a shaft 21, and thence (see Fig..4) through a.worm 28 and worm wheel 29 it will drive shaft 30 on which the wormWheel 29 is mounted. Shaft 39 carries gear wheel 3| which may mesh (seeFig. with gear wheel 32 on shaft 33, said gear wheel 32 meshing withgear 34 on the same shaft 35 which carries the mutilated gear wheel 2|,

SinceA gear teeth 22 move out of mesh with gear wheel, 2,0 once duringeach revolution of shaft` 35 and must again effect engagement on thenext revolution, means are provided for synchronizing the position ofgear wheel 2,0 with gearwheel 2| and Vgear teeth 22 during the intervalthat the gears' are out of engagement so that said gear teeth will bevin position to mesh. For this purpose there is vprovided a defining andholding mechanism. which becomes effective as soon as gear teeth 22 moveout of mesh with gear 20 and whichremains effective until gear teeth 22are almost ready to engage gear again. For this purpose there is mountedon the fixed support |29 a lever I2| carrying a detent roller |22adapted to cooperate with a disk |23 fixed upon the shaft I9. Said disk|23 is provided with the groove |24 into which the detent roller I 22 isadapted to engage as soon as the gear teeth 22 move out of mesh withgear wheel 2&9, and thus render definite the position of the gear Vwheel29 with respect to gear wheel 2| and its gear teeth-22. so that gearteeth 22 will be' able to mesh with gear 29 on the next rotation. Thelever I2| is normally spring pressed by spring to hold the detent |22 in'engagement with the periphery of disk |23. When the gear teeth 22 againmesh with gear 20 it will rotate shaft I9 and hence disk |23 to move thedetentA |22 and lever I2I outwardly from the groove against the actionof spring. |25. The dening and holding mechanism is thus released forthe interval that the shaft I9 rotates, and when substantiallyY acomplete rotation of said shaft has been made and gear teeth 22 move outof engagement with gear.20,the detent |22 again falls into the groove|24 to dene the meshing posiupon a fixed member tion of the gear wheel20 relative to gear wheel 2| and hold it fixed in such position,

The drive described above is designed to rotate the table IIintermittently through predetermine'd steps, said steps being thosenecessary to bring the hub supports I2 and the hubs supported on theupper ends thereof successively into drilling position. Each drill maycomprise the motor which drives a drill 49 extending jig 4|. The jig issupported 43 by means of pins 44 slidable in said member. Springs 42 areinterposed between the jig and support 43 to hold the jig normally inlowered position until flanges 49 on pins 44 engage member 43. The hubsupport |2 with the hub H to be drilled supported thereon is designed tobe moved up through guide opening 45 in the table I I with sufficientforce to lift the jig against the action of springs 42 to cause thedrill to enter into the upper end of the hub H and drill the hole. Theinterior of the jig 4| may be provided with a conical surface 45 soformed as to engage the narrow upper rim 41 and the wider lower rim 48of the hub H and thus guide the hub into the proper drilling position.

For operating the hub support I2 upwardly into the jig when therespective hub support and its hub are in drilling position, thefollowing mechanism is provided: The hub supports I2 are slidablymounted within table through openings 45 so that they may be movedvertically. Each support i2 is provided with a collar 50 having a groove5| within which engages pins 52 carried by arms 53 (see Figs. 9 and 1).Each arm 53 downwardly within a is pivoted at one end at 54 (see Figs. 1and 2) on a hub 55 xed to the shaft I4 and is provided at its other endwith a roller 5S operating on a, ring cam track 51. At the bottom ofeach support I2 there is provided a flange 60 (see Figs. 3 and 9) whichis adapted to engage within a slotted member 6I when the respective hubsupport has moved into drilling position. Said slotted members arecarried upon the upper ends of shafts 62 which are slidable (see Fig. 4)within a xed supporting plate 65 forming part of the fixed frame |9. Thelower ends of said slotted member 62 are fixed at 65 in a verticallyreciprocable plate P. The plate P is supported on the fixed frame I0 bymeans such as pairs of toggles 1|).

It will now be apparent that if plate P is lifted vertically it willmove all of the shafts 62 and their respective slotted members 6Itogether with the hub supports I2 which are in engagement with saidslotted members, vertically upwardly. Since the axes of shafts 62coincide with the axes of drills 40, the hub supports will be liftedvertically and the hubs moved within the jigs concentrically with thedrills when the plate P is raised. This, however, im-plies that thcplate P will maintain a parallel motion as it is lifted. To secure suchparallel motion, as well as the necessary force for lifting the hubsupports and the hubs into the jigs so that they may be drilled, theplate P is supported, in addition to the toggles 10, at two points bymeans of rollers 1I in engagement with cams 'I2 on a horizontal shaft13. It will now be understood that if plate P is lifted equally by thecams 12 it will move in parallel motion by reason of the toggle supports'I0 which hold it on the frame ID.

Shaft 13 and its cam I2 may be rotated to lift plate P. by any suitabledriving means such as a motor, not shown, which drives the belt andpulley 25, 26 which drives the shaft 21 and its worm 28 which may engageworm wheel 15 on as@937244a the power drivewhich includesi belt. and;lpuliey 25' the said shaft T3; The cams 12'A are so `positioned withrespect toy the intermittent drive herein before described that they`operate to lif-t the plate P after pin |'|A has left the star-wheel t6;In other words, the star-wheel has first been moved to the new positionto bring a newV hub andY its hub Support into drilling position andthen` the cams lift plate Pl to lift the hubs into engagement with thedrill- Raising plate P raises shafts 62, the slotted member Gif, and therespectiveV hub supports I2 which are in engagement with said slottedmembers tofmove the hubs H carried by the respective hub supports intothe jigsv against the pressure of springs 42 to permit theV drillsI tobore the holes. The plate P is normallybiased towardA lowered positionby means ofn springs4 83, 8,4.

It is essential that'the table Il beY heldin fixed position before theplate P starts its upward movement, and therefore locking and deningmeans are provided which become eii'ective as soon` as the table hasbeen turned into its new position andbefore the plate P' begins to moveupwardly for locking the table, in position. For this purpose anadditional cam 1B is provided on shaft` 13 and is adapted to engage alever 'H pivotedv on the fixed frame atl-8 and at its upper end engaginga pin T9 on a pin `or plunger 8U which is` adapted to cooperate withopenings 8| in the periphery of the table cam moves lever 'Il' outwardlyto pull the` pin 80 out of the opening 8| when the intermittent driveisl about to take effect to move the table to its new position. As soon,however, as the pin I"|' has disengaged the star-wheel' I6', that is, assoon as the table has been mvedthrough another step to its new position,the cam TSpe-rmits the` lever |'|v to move inwardly under the pressureof a spring 82 pressing against the end of plunger 8D to permit saidplunger to enter the respective opening 8| in the` table and hold itwhile plate P begins to move the hub supports |2 upwardly. When thedrilling has been eiiected and plate P' moves downwardly, the cam 16becomes eilective to move lever outwardly against the action of spring|32` and thusv disengage -plunger Sfrom opening 8|V in table l| topermit the intermittent drive to move the table to its next posi'- tion.The pin 80 may be provided with a tapered point 83 so that anyindeniteness of position of table will not prevent engagement withopenings 8`| and willY correct such indefniteness by bringing the tableto the proper step position.

The full cycle of operation is apparent from the above description andmay be briefly summarized as follows: 'Ihe intermittent star-wheel driverotates turntable through a given angular distance to move the drilledhub out of drilling position and bring a new hub into drilling position.The table is locked in this position by the action of plunger 80 undercontroloi cam '|6. Then the plate P is lifted through the action of cams'I2 to lift the hubs on supports l2 into the jigs and. eect drilling.The plate is then lowered, the plunger 80. withdrawn from table and thestar-wheel mechanism againis actuated through the next step. In theinterval that table is stationary, the drilled hubs are removed from thehub supports and. undrilledhubs are placedthereon.

Since the drillingV ofr the hubs produces consid'- erable waste materialwhich drops upon table |.|`..and may clogthe mechanism, means areprofrom the surface oi' the table. For this purpose,

Normally, the

and 25 may drive through fi-irtherfbeltl andi pulleyy arrangements 852,85, 811', 88 'and' 89 to rotate' a1 horizontalf shaft 9'01/ extendinginwardly over plate` and carrying at itsy innerendl a brush 91| willthus be continuously rotated aboutA alhorizontal axis. The brush is sopositioned andl the direction of rotation so controlled thatA thebrushwill engage the surface ofthe tableduringA each revolution of thebrush and move outwardlyitowardE the circumference or the table` andthen upwardly. In this movement thebrush alsoiremoves the-drilled; hubs.Thus there` is a conti`n uous brushing of waste material anddrilled;hubs past the outer periphery'o the table. The waste material anddrilled hubs are caught inea screen iilter which permitsY the waste topass" but holdsr back the drilledv hubs.

In order thatA the hub supports lf2' whichnorm-ally proect upwardlythrough the truntablef |"|V shall not interfere withrv the operationoflbruslr 9|, the cam track 5'| is provided witha depressedv portion 51in cooperativerelation with the brush- 9|. The rollers ."it-l atthe endof lever arms 53 will drop into the depression 5l' carrying levers 53downwardly and hence carrying the respectivehub supports |2 downwardlyuntiltlieyf are beneath the surface' of theV turntable in that por'-tion of the'tableover which'brushS-/l Voperates and thus will-notinterfere with the brush The drilled hubs remain on the surface of thetable after the supports I2y arev depressed, until the brush sweeps themoft;

As shown in Fig. 1 of. the drawings, a pluralityy of drills may beprovided and thesey may be enrploye'd in` various combinations forperforming` various operational sequences. Thus; in-

stance, to drill the-hub shown in- Figs. 10 and; lil:

which calls for drilling Vfirst av countersunk hole 93', then a largehole El andi iinally a small, hole.

drill, While drill'v C is provided with the finer drill'` After the hubhas had the oountersinlrV drilled by drill A, it will, two steps later,have hole. Sill. drilled by drill B, andv threeV stepslater in. the.intermittent drive of plate ||v itA will reaohvdrill C where. the finehole will be drilled; It willbe understood' that. all of the drills. areoperatingA simultaneously on the respective hubsA which. are, incooperative relation. During this, operation the turntable |'I moves;at` each step through'the. angular distance a. However, when. a huboffthe type shown in Fig. 12 'is to be drilled,A such. hub: requiringbut a single hole, then only. drllsB and C are employed and each,performs. the same function. In this instance, the drive is changed sothat the table. rotates at each step through: the angular distanceZ, andsincedrills B and C are. the angular distance 3a apart, alternate hubvsupportswillengage drill B and drill C. In other words, a support thatgoes under drill B and has the hole 96 drilled in the, hub H will in thenext step ofthe tableV rotate the distance 2a (onestop in advance ofdrill C) and in the next step ofthe. table will advance another distance2a (which is one step beyond drill C). On the other hand.. the nextsucceeding support I2, for example the one at position |10 when thedrill B is drilling ahub, will in the next step of thetable advance tolpositiony |01 one step beyond .drill4 B but twol steps before drill' C.Therefore on the next double step of the table thehub in position willadvance into position to be drilled by drillC. Thus alternate hubs onhub Vsupports I2, will engage drill BA while the hubs between thosewhichengage drill B will engage drill C. In this way both drills B and C Willdrill holes 95 in their respective hubs H' at the same time and the rateof production will be increased because lat each angular double step ofthe table two hubs will be drilled. j

'I'he above operation implies that the angular distance through whichtable II may be moved can be adjusted from movement of angle a at eachstep to movement of angle 2a at each step. For this purpose thefollowing mechanism is provided: The pin I1 carried by disc I8 mayoccupy either one of two positions on said disc. In position S, nearerthe center of the disc, the pin will engage the teeth of the star-wheelfor ashorter interval to effect a smaller angular movement of the wheelthan when the pin is in position S farther removed from the center ofthe disc. Position S' is so determined that pin |1 in this position willeffect twice the angular movement of the star-wheel for each rotation ofgear 20 than when said pin is in position S. Y v.

vWhen the pin |1 is moved to position S from position S it may be foundthat it does not coinn cide with the center of an opening between` twoadjacent teeth of the star-wheel and that unless some adjustment is madethe pin I1 will not enter the notch in the star-wheel freely but willstrike one of the teeth. To effect the necessary adjustment withoutinterfering with the `meshing relationship of gears 20 and 22, the shaftI9 and its concentric gears and discs are mounted on the support |I0 bysets of screws |30 entering openings |3| in the support. A second set ofopenings V|32 may be provided so that the shaft I9, disc |8 and pin |1may be moved along the plane' surface I|2 of support ||0 to thenecessary position to cause the pin I1 to cooperate with the notches inthe star-wheel When the pin is moved to position S'. The axis of shaftI9 when pin |1 isin position S and the screws I3I) are in openings |3|ylies to one side of a normal to the plane ||2 a distance equal toone-half the distance between sets of openings |3| and |32. lWhentheshaft I9 (with its gears and discs) is moved toadjusf for the screwin position S', it is moved to aV position on the other side of thenormal equal to onehalf the distance between sets of openings I3I andI32. The distance between the axes of shafts IS and 35 remains the samein the two positions and therefore the meshing of gears 20 and 22` isunaffected by the adjustment. l f

The drill motors M, M'. M may be mounted in any suitable manner,preferably so that` they may be adjusted vertically to permit boring, ofholes of any lengths in hubs of various lengths'l In drilling hubs suchas H, shown in the drawings, it frequently happens that these hubs arenot all of the same length and thereforeV holesvof diierent lengths maybe drilled becausecertain of the hubs will project above the hubsupports for greater distances than others. To insure constant length ofdrill hole regardless of the length of hub, there may be provided on thearmature |80 of the drill motor, a sleeve |50 whichexten'ds above thedrill point a predetermined distance corresponding to the depth of holeto be drilled.

The motor armature is of a resiliently mounted type When the hub supportlifts the hub into the jig 4| and against the drill, the latter willdescend into the hub until the hub Aor jig engages sleeve |50, afterwhich further upward movement of the hub will cause no further entranceof the drill because the sleeve and motor armature will lift, and hencethe drill and hub will lift together. A constant depth of drilling isthus assured regardless of the length of the hub.

It sometimes occurs that a hub will stick in the jig after the hubsupport is withdrawn. The next hub support lifts its hub into the jigand attempts to complete its stroke under the pressure of the lifting.plate P and the driving mechanism, despite the presence of the jammedprior hub. This creates great pressure throughout the entiresystemandwould cause considerable damage if it werenot relieved. Forthis purpose any suitable type of one-Way overrunning clutch (not shown)may be employed in the drive system, preferably between the doublepulley 25-85 and the shaft 21.

Another method of preventing damage to the machine caused by thepresence of a jammed prior hub is shown in Fig. 3. This includes a bellcrank |60 pivoted at ISI on a member |52 which in turn is xed to themain frame ID 0f the machine. One arm |53 of the bell crank is connectedto the upper end of lever 11 through a link |64 so that when cam 16moves lever 11 to cause pin 80 to disengage the table and permit thelatter to be rotated, the bell crank will be rocked about its pivot(counter-clockwise in Fig. 3) The other arm |65 of the bell crank isnormally in close proximity to the hub H positioned within the jig 4|.If the drilled hub H has descended with its hub support l2, then the arm|65 of the bell crank meets no opposition when the bell crank is rotatedcounter-clockwise, the lever 11 moves outwardly, and the table isrotated to its next step position. However, if a hub has stuck in thejig after its support I2 has descended, the arm |65 of the bell crankwill strike the hub H and prevent rotation of the bell crankcounter-clockwise and hence prevent lever 11 from moving outwardly. Pinremains in engagement with the table I I, and since the drivingmechanism continues to operate, the excess resistance will cause theoverrunning clutch mentioned in the preceding paragraph to becomeeffective to release the driving connections. Since the table cannot beturned to a new position until the hub H is removed from the jig, it isnot possible to jam a second hub into the same jig before the rst hasbeen removed.

Still another solution of the above problem of preventing damage to themachine by a jammed hub is disclosed in Fig. 13. Here the distancethrough which pins 44 are raised is utilized to operate a safetymechanism. A single hub in the jig is raised a predetermined distance.If this hub is jammed and a second hub enters the jig before the rst hubhas been removed, the jig and its pin 44 will obviously be raised agreater distance than normally. Any tendency to exceed the predetermineddistance through which pin 44 is raised is caused to operate safetymechanism in the form of a clutch |18 for disconnecting the drivingmechanism. For this purpose the flange 49 0n pin 44 is caused to engagea stop |1| carried by a lever I 12 pivoted at |13 on the fixed frame I0.The stop is set at the predetermined position to which the flange 49 onpin 44 is raised for drilling one hub. If this distance is exceeded (asin the case where a hub jams and a second hub enters the same jig beforethe first has been removed), the flange 49 will engage a stop |1| torock the lever |12 which actuates an operating leverI15 pivoted at |16on the'xed arm to disconnect clutch lill against the action of a springil? which tends to keep the clutch in engagement. This clutch, like theoverrunning clutch heretofore mentioned, may be interposed between thedriving mechanism and the shaft 21 which carries the double pulley 26,85.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have hereindescribed the principle and operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof,but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention can be carried out by otherequivalent means. Also, while it is designed to use the various featuresand elements in the combination and relations described, some of thesemay be altered and others omitted without interfering with the moregeneral results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

I claim:

1. In an automatic machine having an operating member, a turntable forsupporting a plurality of articles to be operated on by said member,means for driving said turntable step by step to bring said articlessuccessively into cooperative I relation to said operating member, saidmeans comprising a star-wheel, a drive for said starwheel including arotatable member supported for rotation about an axis displaced from theaxis of the star-wheel, a pin carried by said member and adapted toenter the spaces between the teeth of the star-wheel to impart a throwto said star-wheel during each rotation of said member, and meanswhereby the position of said pin relative to said rotatable member andsaid star-wheel may be varied to vary the throw of the star-wheel witheach rotation of said member.

2. In an automatic machine having an operating member, a turntable forsupporting a plurality of articles to be operated on by said member,means for driving said turntable step by step to bring said articlessuccessively into cooperative relation to said operating member, saidmeans comprising a star-wheel, a drive for said starwheel including arotatable member supported for rotation about an axis displaced from theaxis of the star-wheel, a pin carried by said member and adapted toenter the spaces between the teeth of the star-wheel to impart a throwto said star-wheel during each rotation of ,said member, means wherebythe position of said pin relative to said rotatable member and saidstarwheel may be varied to vary the throw of the star-wheel with eachrotation of said member, a gear drive for said rotatable memberincluding a gear carried by said member and a second gear meshing withsaid first gear, and means for moving the axis of said member linearlywith respect to said star-wheel and said second gear to eiiectcooperation of said pin with the spaces between the star-wheel teeth.

3, In an automatic machine having an operating member, a turntable forsupporting a plurality of articles to be operated on by said member,means for driving said turntable step by step to bring' said articlessuccessively into cooperative relation to said operating'me'mber, saidmeans comprising a star-wheel, a drive for said starwheel including arotatable member supported for rotation about an axis displaced from theaxis of the star-wheel, a pin carried by said member and adapted toenter the spaces between the teeth of the star-wheel to impart a throwto said ,star-wheel during each rotation of said member,

means whereby the position of said pin relative to said rotatable memberand said star-wheel may be varied to vary the throw of the starwheelwith each rotation of said member, a gear drive for said rotatablemember including a gear carried by said member and a second gear meshingwith said rst gear, and means for moving the axis of said memberlinearly with respect to said star-wheel and said second gear to effectcooperation of said pin with the spaces between the star-wheel teeth,the axis of said member and said gear being moved from a position apredetermined distance to one side of a normal drawn from the axis ofthe second gear to the plane of said linear movement to a position whichis an equal distance on the other side of a normal whereby said linearmovement does not affect the mesh of said gears.

a. In an automatic machine having an operating member, a turntable forsupporting a plurality of articles to be operated on by said member,means for driving said turntable step by step to bring said articlessuccessively into cooperative relation to said operating member, saidmeans comprising a complete gear and a mutilated gear adapted duringeach revolution thereof to engage and disengage said first gear, andmeans for maintaining the synchronism of said gears, said last-namedmeans comprising a, cam plate movable with said complete gear and havinga groove, a detent coacting with said groove, and means whereby saiddetent is adapted to engage said groove when said mutilated geardisengages said complete gear and to disengage said groove when saidmutilated gear engages said complete gear.

LEO ROBBINS.

